Lung Cancer: Symptoms, Causes and Treatments

Posted on Friday, February 27, 2015

Lung cancer is the uncontrolled multiplication of cells that start off in one or both lungs; usually in the cells that line the air passages. The abnormal cells, which do not develop into healthy lung tissue, divide rapidly and form malignant tumours.

Smoking, though attributed as one of the main reasons for lung cancer, is not necessarily a trigger always. As lung cancer stages advance, symptoms like coughing, wheezing, shortness of breath, and bloody mucus become progressive.

Symptoms

Coughing up blood (hemoptysis) or dark colored phlegm

A cough that prevails for a long time or gets worse over time

Fatigue

Unexplained weight loss

Respiratory infections

Wheezing

Shortness of breath

Pain in the chest

Treatment & Care

Lung Cancer Chemotherapy: A variety of chemotherapy medications are used to treat lung cancer

Radiation Therapy: Radiation therapy is a popular treatment for lung cancer, but it does come with side effects.

Photodynamic therapy (PDT), Radiofrequency ablation (RFA), Non-Small-Cell Lung Cancer Treatment are some of the other treatments for lung cancer.

Several different types of medications are used to combat cancer pain.

Lung Cancer Causes & Statistics

It is said that about 90 percent of lung cancer is because of tobacco use. The risk increases with number of cigarettes.

Pipe and cigar smoking can also cause lung cancer.

Passive Smoking or the inhalation of tobacco smoke from other smokers is also an established risk factor for the development of lung cancer.

Asbestos fibers are known to cause lung cancer and is banned or limited at many workplaces.

Lung cancer is also influenced by genetics, in both smoking and non-smoking relatives of those who have had lung cancer than in the general population.